We’re Not Messes or Mistakes–We’re Works of Art

Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man. Genesis 2:22

I’ve read the creation story in Genesis many times and yet as I did so recently, I saw it in a new way when it comes to who we are as women. Yes, “in the beginning, God created” {Gen. 1:1}. He spoke the world into being. Can you imagine what the angels thought as they watched stars scatter into the sky, birds take flight and the ocean roar for the very first time?

But as remarkable as that must have been, perhaps what got their attention most was when God’s actions seemed to express: The next part I’m doing in a more personal way. You see, God didn’t just create Eve from afar. He didn’t just speak her into being. He handcrafted her. He formed her with care. She was the work of a Master Artist.

And like a Master Artist, after God formed Eve He presented her to Adam. I imagine He did so with joy and delight. She was the completing piece of creation. The beautiful finale. Not an afterthought or an add-on but an expression of the heart of the One who made her.

God still personally takes part in forming who we are…

You made my whole being;you formed me in my mother’s body.I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way.What you have done is wonderful.I know this very well.You saw my bones being formedas I took shape in my mother’s body.When I was put together there,you saw my body as it was formed. {Ps. 139:13-16}

As women we can look at who we are and see a mess or mistake. We can wish we were more like someone else. We can view ourselves with critical eyes. Next time before we do so let’s pause and remember that we are a one-of-a-kind work of art. “We are God’s masterpiece” {Eph. 2:10}.

We are part of God’s extraordinary plan. We are here for a divine purpose. We show who He is through who we are in a way no one else can. And it’s been that way since time began.

Welcome to the Coffee for Your Heart weekly link-up! You’re an encourager so I’m asking you to pour out a little love with your words every Wednesday {link-up goes live at 5:30am CST}. Simply write an encouraging blog post and then share it here. Don’t have a blog? You can still write an encouraging comment. If you’re reading this by email, go to holleygerth.com to see all the fun and join in too.

Pretty please use this button in your blog post so others can easily join in with us {html code in right sidebar}. And when you link up your post, take a moment to leave an encouraging comment on the one that’s linked up just before yours. Thanks, friends!

Comments

So often I do feel like a mess . . . groan.
The words that remind me of the truth that I’m God’s masterpiece can never be in my ears and before my eyes too often.
Thanks for bringing them to me this morning!

Blessings to you Michele! I feel the same way alot of days….. .and need to hear how God treasures us, and that each of us are His unique, one of a kind masterpieces… ..and that no matter how messy or inadequate we may feel at times, God’s got His hand on our lives……faithfully working, bringing us to be more and more like Him, a little each day. I am also grateful that when I see the gifting and callings of others, that because we are each uniquely and specialty made, …I don’t have to fall into the comparison trap (lie) and begin to feel worthless (another lie). Today……I am grateful for this reminder that I am one of a kind special to God, and He’s still working on me, praise God ! He

Holley, your posts are always so encouraging and freeing. I don’t doubt that you are doing exactly what God called you to do, for He is evident throughout it. Thank you. Happy Easter to your family. ((blessings))

Just what I needed to hear this morning. Been through a rough emotional patch with a family member who I inadvertently deeply wounded in the process of trying to help. Sounds simplistic for a very complicated period of years. The idea that God created us by his own hand I never really thought about in such a way and that every aspect of us He oversaw really helps when through the sin and dIfficulties of this world you really don’t feel very special but just kind of a mixed up mess. Thank you God that You value us and love us anyway.

Génesis 6:5
If we are “piece of art” we do not need any Salvation or a Savior
We were in the begining but now the man is “dead” and the heart of man is our enemy and against God
Every man´s thinking is corrupt and thats why it needs Faith in God´s word
Please stop saying man is “great”.. I understand you want people to feel OK and come out of depresion and
Negative thougts, and may work in the begining and make people feel good for a momento, but the Truth, what the scripture says is that a Man is vile and wicked and knowing that can
Making people feel great for a couple of hours avoid them to go to the root and to meditate on why everything where wrong, then we they discover their sin that the did act by his own hearth and thinking, then can call Christ and his word will really guide us. Please llet us call Christ every day to be rescue..
Before Ephesians 2:10 is Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves” NOT of yourselves!
I know who I am, a terrible and a corrupt hearth Jeremias 17:9 but I am very happy because I know I have the hearth of Christ because I know he released me and forgive me complety and he is at my side in me, and HIS hearth leads my way through the holy spirit.. With all my respect..
You can learn more from “Good News Church”
Thank you..!

Please God don´t let this person be fill with pride saying: “you can´t teach me nothing I know everything, please, have mercy of Holly in the name of Jesus Christ”

This grieves my heart deeply … praying! {I think you need to read Holley’s book and grow. Yes, “humankind is vile, evil, etc. but Jesus Christ came to redeem us and free us from lies” and to open our spiritual eyes and understanding. May the Holy Spirit speak to you with more truth and tender words of love.}

Oh dear Lorena, You have misinterpreted Holly completely. I have read all of her books and not one time have I thought that she is saying “we are so good and amazing that we don’t need a Savior.” What Holly is doing is encouraging the hearts of Christian women to embrace their worth and LIVE in the completeness of Christ! He is the One Who makes us amazing and beautiful and worthy. Yes we are all sinners in desperate need of a Savior. But our Savior created us and He doesn’t make vile, evil, people. What he creates is beautiful. When we say “no” to Him and His Word and His plan for our lives it is then that we allow Satan to have his way. I pray that you will read her books and look at her heart and realize that God gave her a gift of writing and encouraging women young and old. Women like me who need to hear her message every day.

Your blogs are always so encouraging to me. I loved how you said that Eve was “the completing piece of creation. The beautiful finale.” I never thought about it that way. Thanks for sharing this truth and reminding us that even though we may look in the mirror and see a mess, God always sees a masterpiece.

We are His masterpieces, but like so many works of art, we can find ourselves stolen, forged, lost or simply painted over, by life in general and the trials we face. We have such a loving Father, He can take the masterpiece, strip the excess paint, carefully clean it, add the oil of the Holy Spirit, repair the frame, restore it completely to masterpiece museum quality and hang it in a heavenly hallway. He stands back to admire it, He loves it what a work of art.

We are His masterpieces, but like so many works of art, we can find ourselves stolen, forged, lost or simply painted over, by life in general and the trials we face. We have such a loving Father, He can take the masterpiece, strip the excess paint, carefully clean it, add the oil of the Holy Spirit, repair the frame, restore it completely to masterpiece museum quality and hang it in a heavenly hallway. He stands back to admire it, He loves it what a work of art.

Blessings Holley and book club sisters in Christ … thanks for this reminder from Ephesians 2:10 and Psalm 139!!!

Before reading this and the comments above, one which got me off track … I was thinking just from the title, how often I pushed the “rewind” button and heard the lies of the enemy telling me what a mess I am (ergo the reason “mess” is part of my main blog title …along with His “aMazing Grace” and a couple other “m” words) … yet ever so thankful that whatever my “mess”, I am led to the Cross, Jesus – “the Way, the Truth and the Life” He is the Resurrection and the Life! So with this, and as in creation, He breathed Life … into me, into us, even into Eve and Adam … but this new Life that He gives me, washes out “the mess”, and “the mistake” tapes that I replay far too often … and pour His aMazing love and grace over me(us).

Even my own spouse, told me years ago, that “we don’t have a problem, that I was the problem” …stuck and got me stuck. Were it not for my strength in Jesus Christ, I may not have made it this far. It sparked an earlier lie I heard and believed when at 4, I heard my dad tell my grandma (his mother) that I was not wanted by him, nor my younger brother (who was about to be born), but my mom wanted more … in his eyes I was a mistake… he did not want more than his first 2 and now there were 4. So he had to work more. And he did, many jobs … so much that we hardly ever saw him, but indeed he was a good provider but that was not all we needed. I guess it was his recovered AA speaking because he was sober for many years, that’s all I heard along with all his other life stories, and my older siblings saw him when he was not. Yet he was a strong father and before dying left a beautiful letter with a message for each of us which I treasure, saying he knows Jesus and forgives me (from my teen rebellion and poor choice or decisions){it’s a long story} but as I wrote… this truth helps me see who God created me to be … no matter what lie the enemy throws at me … we are God’s chosen, masterpieces of art, or sculpture … that need some chipping away, some refining … however, He is the Master (artist, sculptor, creator, etc. but mostly -at least this week- Redeemer) … Hallelujah! He is Risen!

May we celebrate a Risen Savior this Resurrection SONday and live as He made us and freed us to be!
~Peggy

I believe God made us women with such intentionality. To be a perfect match to his create male and to be beautiful and pleasing. I wish we would really take this to heart. Beautiful thoughts for me today. Thank you for hosting the link up. I want to read them all…

Wonderful, uplifting truths, Holley! ‘Think I’ll copy them for my notebook, to remind myself frequently: We are one-of-a-king masterpieces. We are part of God’s extraordinary plan. We are here for a divine purpose. We show who He is through who we are in a way no one else can. Thank you for the boost of “Dangerous Woman” courage!

Hi Holley – It was so nice meeting you and listening to you talk at Hope Spoken. My friend Susan and I were sitting with you when Sara spoke (the Florida girls). We are doing your bible study and think you were the best part of Hope Spoken for us. You are amazing and bless so many with your words. Happy Easter! xo

Absolutely..,I know God had me there because I really needed to hear your encouraging words! Look forward to your comments and the book club everyday. P.S. This is the first time I have ever gone on a blog, so having a bit of a learning curve. LOL if I subscribed to many times, please find the humor in it Have a truly blessed day! Appreciate your wisdom!

I have always found that interesting, too, Holley. The difference in his creativity towards women and coupling that with the difference with which Jesus treated women. 🙂 I am thankful that He sees something still beautiful in my mess.
Blessings
Dawn